Curve scriber



Patented Oct. 15, 1940 unirse STATES PATENT OFFICE CURVE SCRIBER Joseph A. Buttress, South Pasadena, Calif. Application December 27, 1938, Serial No. 247,912 7 claims. (ci. 33 17'7) This invention relates to a curve scriber of the adjustable type and has as its primary object the provision of an adjustable curve scriber that is reversible so as to enable scribing of corresponding curves on opposite sides of a center line.

Another object is to provide a curve scriber of the above character embodying a flexible curve delineating strip adapted to be iiexed to form innumerable curves, together with an effective means for retaining the strip in various adjusted positions and in a fashion to maintain both the longitudinal edges of the strip free of obstruction whereby either edge of the strip may be utilized in scribing a curve defined by the strip either with a continuous or with a broken line as desired.

Another object is to provide a curve scriber embodying a flexible curve delineating strip and 2o a mounting therefor in which the mounting engages the strip intermediate the margins thereof and is adapted to Abe engaged with the strip at various points throughout the length thereof. Another object is to provide a curve scriber embodying a retaining bar and a iiexible curve delineating strip carried by said bar in a fashion to permit unlimited and unrestricted movement of the strip longitudinally of the bar in engagement therewith, whereby the point of connection between the strip and bar may be shifted to an infinitesimal extent when necessary, so as to enable attainment of great accuracy in adjustment of the curve delineating strip on its supporting bar.

A further object is to provide an effective means for varying the curvature of intermediate portions of a bowed length of the strip protruding from the retaining bar whereby an arched or arcuate length of the strip may be varied in its contour or converted into an irregular curve.

With the foregoing objects in View, together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention is carried into eifect as illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. y l is a perspective View of the curve scriber; l

Fig. 2 is a detail in section and elevation taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l as seen in the direction indicated by the arrows; v

Fig. 3 is a detail in section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view in section and elevation as seen on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a View in section and elevation taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4 as 'seen in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a detail in perspective of a fragmentary portion of the curve delineating strip showing it as formed of laminations; `5

Fig. 7 is a view in section taken on the line 1 1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a plan view showing the application of the curve scriber in delineating corresponding curves on opposite sides of a center line; 10

Fig. 9 is a view in section and elevation taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8 as seen in the direction indicated bythe arrows; l

Fig. 10 is a view in elevation as seen inthe direction of the arrows lil in Fig. 9; 15

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the curve. scriber` showing a simple or elementary form thereof; l

Fig. 12 is a detail in horizontal section taken on the line l2 l2 of-Fig. 11. .120

ing sufficient rigidity to oppose free flexing and 25l yet is sufficiently pliable to' permit it being bent into abrupt curves without kinking. I have found that clock spring steel is admirably suited for the purpose, but manifestly other metals such as iron, copper, lead orzinc may be em- 30 ployed, and in some instances composition materials such as Celluloid or rubber, or phenolresin or cellulose products may be serviceable,

In carrying out the invention the strip A is formed at intervals throughout the length thereof with openings' lil preferably inthe form of elongated slots extending longitudinally of the strip mediate the margins thereof and which openings are designed to receive a supporting bar B having a cross section conformableto the o openings but of a dimension slightly less than that of the openings so as to afford suicient clearance between the margins of the openings and the surfaces of the bar to permit sliding of the bar through the openings ,and lacing of the strip on the bar and longitudinal adjustment of the strip and bar relative to each other.

The bar B is shown as substantially rectangular in, cross section with opposed flat upper and lower faces that slidably Contact longitudinal 50 margins of the rectangular openings I4 through which the bar is extended; the openings I4 being of suicient length exceeding the width of the bar B to permit the strip being disposed either in a position at right angles to the bar or in oblique v relation thereto. In some instances it may be desirable to form the openings I4 of greater length relative to the width of the bar B than in other cases. For example, where the strip is intended to cross the bar with one side of the strip extending at a short acute angle relative to the margin of the bar the opening I4 will then be formed relatively long, whereas when the strip is desired to extend almost at right angles to the bar then the openings I4 are formed of a length closely approximating the width of the bar.

The invention in its simplest form consists merely of the apertured strip A and its retaining bar B as shown in Fig. 11, in which the strip is shown as strung on the bar in an S-curve. In this arrangement, by forming the strip A of a resilient material, such as steel clock spring, a gripping action will be effected between the opposite ends of the openings I4 through which the bar extends and the opposed margins of the bar B, such as to oppose movement of the strip longitudinally of the bar until the strip is bent to free the ends of the openings from the side margins of the bar, whereupon the bowed length of the strip extending between the openings engaged by the bar may be shifted lengthwise of the bar, and which will permit ready removal and replacement of the bar and strip relative to each other. Manifestly in the arrangement shown in Fig. 11 the angular relation between the intersecting portions of the strip and bar at which interengagement of the bar and strip occur is determined by the length of the openings Ill relative to the width of the bar.

Where it is desired to position the strip A in an abrupt angular relation to the bar greater than that afforded by the normal engagement of the ends of the openings and the edge of the bar, means are provided for affording an adjustable abutment for the portion of the strip crossing the bar on either one or both sides of the strip.

As here shown such abutment indicated at C, is in the form of a yoke adapted to be positioned astride the bar B and having Vone arm thereof formed with a hook I5 engageable with one edge of the bar and having its opposite arm fitted with a set-screw I6 engageable with the other edge of the bar to rigidly clamp the abutment yoke C against movement longitudinally of the bar but which screw on being suiiciently loosened will permit ready removal and replacement of the yoke and also will permit adjustment of the yoke longitudinally of the bar to any desired position thereon. By applying a pair of the abutment yokes C on opposite sides of the portion of the strip A crossing the bar B the strip A may be positioned to extend laterally of the bar A at right angles thereto or at an angle close to the perpendicular. With one end portion of the bow of the strip thus engaged, the other end of the bow may be heid in various adjusted relations to the clamped end thereof by positioning one of the yokes C to abut against the outer face of the bow as shown in the lower right hand portion of Fig. 1.

Where it is desired to vary the contour of the bow portion of the strip projecting Yfrom the bar or to convert such bow into an irregular curve, a thrust attachment D, particularly shown in Fig. 4, is employed, and which attachment ernbodies a yoke II adapted to be positioned astride the bar, which yoke has a hook IS on one arm thereof engageable with one margin of the bar, and is fitted with a set-screw I9 in the other arm thereof engageable with the opposite edge of the bar to clamp the yoke II in position on the latter.

Pivotally connected to a pivot pin 2D on the hooked arm I8 is a rod 2I adapted to be inserted through one of the openings I4 of the strip A, and mounted on the rod 2l is a pair of adjustable abutments 22 and 23' here shown as of complementary construction and each of which einbodies a pair of parallel end members 2Q and 25 formed with aligned openings 2B and 2l respectively through which the rod ZI slidably extends; the end members 2li and 25 being connected by a member 28 fitted with a set-screw 29 engageable with the rod 2I to hold the abutment against movement thereon. The rod ZI is circular in cross section and the openings 2f? and 2l' conform thereto so that the abutment may be revolved around the rod 2I to project from any portion thereof around its periphery. The end members 25 are arranged to abut the opposite sides of the strip A and for the purpose of enabling a variable reach of the abutment members 25 they are elongated so that bringing them to various positions around the rod 2l their outer ends will be projected to overlie the contiguous surface of the stripy A to various extents lengthwise of the latter. This feature is especially desirable as to the abutment member 272 arranged interiorly of the bow, since the contact of the end member 25 with the inner arcuate face of the bow may be rendered narrow by positioning the extension transversely of the strip A as shown in full lines in Fig. 5, and whereby a sharp bend of the strip A around the abutment member maybe effected. Where it is desired to more or less iiattcn out the bend of the strip around the abutment 25 the latter is turned to extend more or less longitudinally of the strip A, indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 5. Manifestly the abut-ments 22 and 23 may be adjusted on the rcd 2i to form the bow with an irregular or reverse curve.

By arranging the supporting or retaining bar B in the openings i4 of the strip A such bar will be arranged intermediate the margins of the strip so that either edge thereof will be presented to surface to be' scribed, and with the presented edge free of obstruction so that a continuous line may be drawn to follow the portion of the curve underlying the bar. This arrangement renders the curve reversible and will permit scribn c? corresponding curves on opposite sides of a ce ter line as indicated in Fig. 8, in which such center line is indicated by the broken line Ce-d.

In order to facilitate positioning of the bar B with the longitudinal center of either side thereof presented toward the center line a-a in alignment therewith a pair of aligning attachments E is provided each of which embodies a split sleeve Bil adapted to receive the bar B and which sleeve is fitted with a split threaded nipple 3i on which is screwed a knurled nut 32 for clamping the sleeve 3i! on the bar. Projecting from opposite sides of each of the sleeves in alignment with the longitudinal center of bar B is a pair of spurs 33--34 the tips of which prot-rafle slightly beyond the plane of the marginal edges of the curved delineating strip A as particularly shown in Fig. 9, and which tips are adapted to slightly penetrate a surface to be scribed. In effecting alignment of the bar B with the center line a-a the spurs on the pair of the spaced sleeves carried on the bar are engaged on the line a-a with the delineating curve A seating on the surface to be scribed. On scribing the desired curve to one side of the center line aa, as indicated by the dotted line 17` in Fig. 8, the curve scriber is reversed and positioned with the tips of the spurs 33-34 disposed in the punctures dened by the previously applied spurs, thus disposing the curved strip in a posi tion to enable scribing a line corresponding to the previously scribed line b.

Ordinarily the curved delineating strip A may be formed of a single sheet of the flexible material but where rigidity of the strip is required it may be formed of a plurality of plies, as shown for example in Fig. 6, wherein a central ply is indicated at 35, which ply is flanked by facing plies 36-5'7; the several plies loosely overlying each other and being fitted with complementary openings l arranged to substantially register with each other.

For the purpose of facilitating scribing a line with a ruling pen the strip A may be formed with shoulders 38 extending parallel with the margins of the strip in close proximity thereto, as indicated in Fig. 6, in which the shoulders ar-e formed by making the flanking strips 36-3'1 narrower in width than the intermediate strip 35 and positioning the strips 35-31 centrally of the intermediate strip.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a curve scriber which is adapted to be adjusted to form a multipicity of curves with the opposed edges of the delineating strip unobstructed so that either edge thereof may be presented to the surface to be scribed and whereby the scriber is rendered reversible.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of the invention it is not limited to the exact construction shown and accordingly embraces such changes and modifications in the parts and their arrangement as come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A curve scriber comprising a exible curve delineating strip formed with spaced elongated openings, and a retaining bar of substantially rectangular cross section on which said strip is mounted by positioning in said openings, the end margins of said openings being adapted to grip the margins of said bar under urge of tension of said strip, the longitudinal margins of certain of said openings being slidably engaged with the at faces of the bar.

2. In a curve scriber, an elongated resilient strip formed with a series of spaced openings extending longitudinally thereof and having its opposed edges parallel, a supporting bar inserted through the openings in said strip on which the strip is bodily shiftable unrestrictedly longitudinally of the bar, said strip being adapted to be bent to form bowed lengths thereof extending from either or both edges of said bar.

3. In a curve scriber, an elongated resilient strip formed with a series of spaced openings eX- tending longitudinally thereof and having its opposed edges parallel, a supporting bar inserted through the openings in said strip on which the strip is bodily shiftable unrestrictedly longitudinally of the bar, said strip being adapted to be bent to form bowed lengths thereof extending from either or both edges of said bar, means adjustable on said bar for holding portions of the strip spanning the bar from accidental shifting -longitudinally thereof, and means connecting said bar and a bowed portion of said strip ernbodying a rod pivotally and slidably connected with the bar, an adjustable abutment on said rod for engaging and bending said bowed portion.

4. In a curve scriber, an elongated resilient strip formed with a series of spaced opening extending longitudinally thereof and having its opposed edges parallel, a supporting bar inserted through the openings in said strip on which the strip is shiftable unrestrictedly longitudinally of the bar, said strip being adapted to be bent to form bowed lengths thereof extending from either or both edges of saidbar, and means mounted on said bar for centering either side thereof length- Wise of a center line, including a pair of sleeves on said bar and spurs projecting from opposite sides of said sleeve in alignment with the longitudinal center of said bar.

5. In a curve scriber, an elongated curve delineating strip formed of a plurality of plies of resilient material, said strip having parallel longitudinal edges and being formed with a series of spaced substantially rectangular openings along the length thereof, and a at bar inserted through a'plurality of said openings in the strip on which the strip may be bent to form curves and also bodily adjusted.

6. In a curve scriber, an elongated resilient curve delineating strip having parallel longitudinal edges and formed with a series of spaced elongated rectangular slots extending lengthwise thereof, and a bar having a substantially rectangular cross section inserted through a plurality of said slots in sliding relation to the margins thereof; said slots having a length to afford a clearance between the ends of the slots and the edges of said bar, said bar having a thickness such that its fiat faces will at all times substantially engage the longitudinal margins of certain of said slots.

7. In a curve scriber, an elongated resilient curve delineating strip having parallel longitudinal .edges and formed with a series of spaced elongated rectangular slots extending lengthwise thereof, and a bar having a substantially rectangular cross section inserted through said slots in sliding relation to the margins thereof; said slots having a length to afford a clearance between the ends of the slots and the edges of said bar, said strip being bodily adjustable on said bar and capable of being flexed and arranged on said bar With the latter projecting through at least a pair of the spaced slots and the ends of said slots being engageable with the edges of said bar under tension of exed portions of said strip.

JOSEPH A. BUTI'RESS. 

